Tom Pett

I found myself defending Tom Pett at the end of last season. He took a while to settle and find his feet, but even in the glimpses we had of him I felt we’d found a real gem. Maybe it’s because I’d talked him up when we first came up, but that final day goal against Yeovil delighted me, not least because I was laid in hospital unable to move and needed something to cheer.

This season I was incredibly surprised to see him deployed in central midfield, even more so to see him succeed. He didn’t just do well, he won the PFA Player of the Month at one point. That set him up for a strong season.

The switch to the centre has suited his tenacious play and ability to travel with the ball.

Looking back, I was surprised to see he’d only bagged three goals. He often seems to be getting forward and threatening, so to find out he hasn’t bagged in 2019 has genuinely surprised me. He’s one who may have lost out a bit with Mark O’Hara coming in, as well as suffering when he went out on the flank following Bruno’s dismissal.

When he arrived he was thought of as a winger, but the switch to the centre has suited his tenacious play and ability to travel with the ball. He’s certainly likely to be seen in matches we need to press home an advantage over ones we need to doggedly defend in, as he’s more of an attacking midfielder than anything.

He’s a reliable member of the squad though, one who will be relishing the chance to prove himself in League One. He’s certainly earned it, an eloquent and well-spoken member of the squad with a community focus, he’s certainly very popular off the field as well as on it.